RALEIGH — Weather permitting, the N.C. Department of Transportation will close a section of I-85 North in Hillsborough this week for preservation work on the bridge over Orange Grove Road.

Crews will close I-85 North at the I-40 split (Exit 163) each night from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning, beginning Friday, June 14. With favorable weather, the work is expected to be completed by Wednesday, June 26.

During the closures, motorists traveling on I-85 North should take the following signed detour:

I-85 North to I-40 East (Exit 163) to Old N.C. 86 (Exit 261) to I-85 North.

This project is part of NCDOT’s $450 million state-funded bridge plan for 2011-13, which calls for preservation, repairs or replacement of bridges statewide. During the project, crews will remove the asphalt from the driving surface of the bridge and then use high-powered jets of water to remove any deteriorated concrete. Once this hydro-demolition process is complete, crews will place a layer of latex-modified concrete on the bridge’s surface. These enhancements will improve the ride quality for motorists, as well as help the 56-year-old bridge last longer by sealing and protecting the pavement from water damage.

NCDOT reminds motorists to use caution in the area, watch signs for construction information and allow plenty of time to reach their destinations safely.

For real-time travel information any time, call 511, visit www.ncdot.gov/travel or follow NCDOT on Twitter. Another option is NCDOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website. To access it, type “m.ncdot.gov” into the browser of your smartphone. Then, bookmark it to save for future reference. NCDOT Mobile is compatible with the iPhone, Android and some newer Blackberry phones.